Safety device for moving-picture machines.



E. M. WOODEN.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I8, 1914.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

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E. M. WOODEN.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR MOVING PICTURE MACHINES.

APPLICATION mzu JULY 18. 1914.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

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U ED STATES PATENT oEEro EAELE M. WOODEN, OF NEW YOEK, 1\T.Y.,,'ASS1'.G1\TOR To THE PERFECTOGRAPH MANU- FAOTUEI G OOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OE DELAWARE.

i SAFETY DEVICE EOE MOVING-PICTURE MACHI ES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Y PatentediAug, 10, 1915 Application filed July 18, 1914. Serial 110,851,697.

J To all whom it may concern: 'Be it known that I, EARLE M. WOODEN, a

citizen of the'United States, residingin the borough of Manhattan of the city of New York, in the State of New York, have mvented certain new and useful Improve ments in Safety Devices for 1 lllov r'ig-Fio ture Machines, of which the itol-lowmg'lsa specification, reference being'ha'd to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. f

In accordance with general practice the prime mover for operating the'mechanl'sm of moving picture'machines is usually set in motion and stopped by the operator through positive movement of a suitable controlling switch or its equivalent. other words, after the mechanismhas once been set in motion by throwing the control handle, the operator'is free to leave the machine until. the entire film has been eXh1b-' ited. run through the machine, one portion of it becomes overheated and burns, or derangements of some portion of the mechanism occur, making it desirable for the operation of the machine to be stopped instantane-' ously. In case of theburning film, for instance, if the arc is not extinguished at once, a serious blaze might ensue andthe audience be disturbedby such an alarminginterruption. In the case of derangements' of some of the parts of the mechanism, the continued application of power through the prime mover might result in very serious and per manent injury tothe film.

, In orderto overcome the dangers referred to, the present invention has for its principal object the provision of a safety device which shall control the operation of the mechanism of moving pictnremachines and which shall require the constant attention.

returned to its normal position of rest and simultaneously breaks the, circuit of the are Oftentimes, while the film is being and brings about the stoppage of the operating mechanism.

As this description proceeds it will be evident that the objects expressed above may beflaccomplishedby widelyv diversified embodiments of the invention, the structure shown in the accompanying drawings serving to, illustrate merely one way in which,

the invention may be realized.

, In these drawings Figure 1 is a 'fragmentary view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of so much of a moving picture machine as is necessary for a complete description of the application of the improved devices thereto. Fig. 2 is a view in section taken on theplane indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing particularly the relationship of the improved controlling switch, the prime mover and the film base.- Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View of the controlling switch. Fig. 1 is a view on the same scale as that of Fig. 3 showing the controlling switch and a fragment of its connection with the prime mover. Fig. 5 is 'afragmentary view taken on the plane indicated by the line 55 of Fig. 4 and looking in'the direction of the arrows.

As shown in Fig. 1, the improved devices may be used in conjunction with a moving picture machine of the usual type, including a lamp house a mounted on a base I), the lamp house having mounted therein the usualcarbons for throwing the projecting beam, the carbons deriving their current through suitable leads 0 and d, in the circuit of which may be disposed a controlling switch a of any usual form. On the base I) may be mounted, as through standards 6, a housing 6 on which is carried a reel, indicated conventionally'at 6 it being understoodthat the film itself (not illustrated) passes from the reel 6 to a suitable windon reel, indicated generally at 7, past an aperture formed in the rear wall of the housing 6', to permit the images on the film to be projected successively through the lens 9 on to the usual exhibiting'screen. It has been deemed unnecessary to illustrate the usual shutter for cutting Off the images from the screen momentarily as the film is moved forward, andother well known mechanism, such as that for driving the wind-0n reel 7, since such devices are common in the art and their illustration would not be conducive to a clearer understanding of the subject matter of this application. It is to be understood, however, that all such necessary operating mechanism, as well as some portions of the improved devices, may be operated by a prime mover, indicated herein as an electrical motor g. If desired, this motor may run continuously or suitable connections may be made with the improved controlling mechanism or an independent switch, for starting and stopping it when desired. At all events, in the illust 'a-ted embodiment, thearmature shaft of the motor g carries thereon a disk g having a conical face, for purposesto be mentioned later. In juxtaposition to the disk g is mounted a shaft it having its axis preferably disposed angularly with respect to the axis of the armature shaft of the motor 9, this shaft It being termed hereinafter the prime mover shaft, since in the illustrated embodiment, it is this shaft which transmits power to the machine and is alternately stopped and started through the control of the improved switch, for the purpose of operating the machine.

From the description thus far given, it is believed that the application of the improved devices to the usual and well known elements referred to, will be readily under stood. he improved controlling switch is illustrated as a lever i provided with an operating handle a" and mounted on an oscillatory shaft 2', journaled in suitable brackets Z) and Z2 carried by the frame Z) of the lamp house. On the front face of the bracket Z) is formed a quadrant-like segment 5, having at one end a shoulder Z), with which may engage a spring-pressed latch. i mounted operatively on the rear side of the coi'itrolling lever 2' and connected with the. handle 71'', whereby the latch may be swung out from the shoulder b by pressing the handle 6 inward, so as to release the lever 6 and permit it to be swung across the face of the segment [2* for a purpose which will. appear hereinafter. The lever i is normally maintained with the latch i in engagement with the shoulder 5, by the action of a spring is which is anchored at one end to the bracket 7) and at the other end to the lever. The free end of the shaft is provided with spiral threads, indicated at 2' which are in operative engagement with an interiorly threaded collar Z which may have formed integral therewith a yoke Z in engagement with a grooved sleeve m feathered on the prime mover shaft it as by means of a slot it and spline n. One end of the sleeve m is formed with a circular flange m, the edge of which may be moved into driving engagement with the conical face of the disk 9 on the armature shaft of the prime mover g. By inclining the axis of the disk 9 with respect to the shaft h it will be evident that the conical face of the disk may be disposed in a plane parallel to the flat edge of the circular flange m, and in this way the flange may be moved with the sleeve along the shaft h from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 to engage effectively with the face of the disk, as shown in Fig. l. One of the features of the invention resides in the provision of devices whereby this movement of the sleeve m and flange m, into and out of driving engagement with the motor disk g, may be readily effected. From the description given of the controlling handle and the movement of the sleeve on, whichit is sought to secure, it will be appreciated that when the handle 2" is moved inward, the latch if is tripped to release it from engagement with the shoulder D and permit the lever 2' and the threaded shaft 2' to be rocked-in a clockwise direction. This rocking movement brings about an axial movement of the sleeve Z, by reason of its threaded engagement with the shaft '5 and in turn results in a sliding movement of the sleeve on along the prime mover shaft h, to the right, as viewed in Fig. l, thus clutching the prime mover shaft h with the rotating motor disk y, through the flange m and spline a and thereby initiating operation of the mecha nism of the machine. In effecting this clutching engagement, it will be noticed that the speed of rotation of the shaft it is determined by the radial distance between the armature shaft and the point of contact of the flange m with the face of the disk g and the point of engagement of the flange with the disk depends upon the extent of movement of the lever 2' by the operator, across the face of the segment a. In considering the reverse movement of the lever i, it will be appreciated that when the operator releases the handle 2", the spring 7a will be effective to restore the lever to its normal position, thus rocking the shaft i in a counter clockwise direction and bringing about an axial movement of the sleeve on. to the left, as viewed in Fig. l, and a disengagement of the flange m from the face of the motor disk g. Such disengagement, of course, results in immediate stoppage of all portions of the mechanism which are driven by the prime mover g.

To insure the quick stoppage of rotation of the shaft 7i and prevent continued operation of the various mechanism driven therefrom, after release of the handle 2" and the lever i by the operator, the lever is provided on its rear face with a stud which may extend through an areuate slot formed in the bracket 5 and engage a suitable brake band 6 supported pivotally on the upper end of the bracket 7/ and ar ranged to embrace a suitable braking face is which may be provided in the form of a brake b is held out of engagement with the collar secured to the shaft h. Normally the braking face k by a spring 6 operatively interposed between the free end of the band and a fiXed anchorage on the bracket b. When the lever i is moved to its normal position of rest, under the influence of the spring 7c, the stud i is drawn into engagement with the free end of the brake band I) soas tomovethe latter into braking engagement with the collarh on the shaft h, against the action of the relatively weak spring I), thusjaffording an effective means for overcomingvthe inertia of the rotating shaft 71, and its associated parts. and msuring the quick stoppagethereof. r

One of the principal featuresof the invention, as indicated in the preamble to. this specification, resides in the provision of means for cutting off the source of light whenever, for any reason, the attendant re- ].eases the controlling lever 2'. It will be understood that such release will probably ensue whenever the operator becomes inattentive or unmindful of the operation of the machine or whenever the mind of the operator is under stress, as when some derangement of the mechanism occurs or when a portion of the film catches fire. It is atsuch times that it is desirable for the operation of the machine to be cut off automatically, and the present devices remove the control of the machine from the operator to the ex tent that its operation will be stopped auto matically whenever the handle is released. In order to cut off the light a very simple mechanical movement is provided in the illustrated embodiment whereby, when the lever is drawn to its normal position, with the toe of the latch 2' against the shoulder I), the toe will engage the tail of an elbow lever 0, the other arm of'which is connected operatively to a latch 72, as through a link p, which in turn engages with a hook 0? carried by the controlling switch 0 in the circuit c of the are light. This switch 0" is moved to close the circuit 0 against the action of a spring a, so that when the latch p is rocked to disengage itself from the hook 0 the spring 0 is effective to withdraw the 7 switch from its operative position and break the circuit of the are light. For holding the latch 79 in engagement with the hook c", the link 79 or any other portion of the con nection between the lever 0 and the latch may be subjected to the action of a spring 79 It will now be understood that when the nose of the latchz' rides down the shoulder bf, it will engage the tail of the lever 0 and rock the same so as to release the latch 72 from engagement with the hook c and bring about the interruption of the are light circuit 0. On the other hand, if the operator desires, for any reason, to stop the operation of the mechanism ofthe moving picture machine an'd yet permit the beam] of light toremain, the lever 15 may be moved in a counter clockwise direction to its normal cut-off position and the latch 2' be held retracted by pressure on the handle 6', as will be understood. In this way, the nose of the latch i is not permitted to ride down the shoulderbf and engage the lever 0, the result beingthat the switch 0 is not released in;the manner described.

l The slidingmovement of the shaft 1". with the sleeve qin one direction is made against the action of a spring 7 which encircles the shaft or and'is interposedbetween the sleeve {and the housing at. The shutter g is arranged to have an oscillatingmovement about the shaft 1', the extent of such movement being between the positions indicated g and the shaft 1!. O ne end face of the sleeve 9 carries astud 9 arranged to register and engage with arecess 8 formed in the end face of a second sleeve 8 supported rotatably on 'theshaft 1.

During the normal operation of the maohinethe shutter q is, held in its elevated position out of the path of the projected beam,-by devices now to be described. In one portion of the housing 6, which may be separated from the shutterg, and so much of its mechanism as is' connected directly thereto, by means of a vertical partition 6, is arranged a collar t fiXedon a shaft 25 which may be journaled slidably in the wall offthe housing 0 and may be provided with steep threads, indicated at with which engage corresponding threads formed on the interior of the collar 25. This collar isheld against axial movement by means of a suitable bracket 67 carried on the wall of the housing a and beneath this bracket is arranged asecg, the governor arms u are rotated and the centrifugal force thereon will serveto draw their free upper ends downward with the collar 2& and shaft t. the shaft 25 in this manner will serve to ro- Axial movement of tate the sleeve t through its engagement with the threads The sleeve t carries an arm 6", which rests in a slot 4; formed in an arm v carried on an oscillatory sleeve '0 which may be journaled in the partition e and connected operatively with the sleeve 8 on the shaft 1 through suitable links w, one of which w, is secured to the sleeve 8 at such a distance from its axis as to facilitate its oscillation about the shaft 9.

From the description thus far given, it will be evident that during the normal operation of the machine the-arm t is held in such angular position by the action of the governor arms u and associated parts on the collar :6, that the sleeve .9 and the sleeve (1' are held in such angular position with respect to the shaft 1" as to maintain the shutter 9 in a position out of the path of the projecting beam, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. In order to permit the shutter g to drop in the path of the projecting beam when the controlling lever i is released, it has been found convenient, in tlie illustrated embodiment, to fix the lever on a rock shaft :0 on which is secured an arm m secured to a reciprocable rod 1 as through a link .90 which reciprocable rod may be mounted slid-ably in brackets 6 supported on the reel base 0. On the rod 11 is supported in a substantially vertical position an arm on the upper end of which is formed a yoke y adapted to engage op'eratively with the sleeve 9'. It will now appear that when the lever i is'moved to its normal position of rest under the action of thespring 7 so that the'toe of the latch 71 rocks the lever 0 in the manner described, the rock shaft 03 will serve to draw the rod 1 to the left, as indicated in Fig. 1, and through the engagement of the arm 1 withthe sleeve q, move the latter against the action of the spring 0* and disengage the stud from the recess .9. As soon as this disengagement is effected, the shutter Q is free to drop under the influence of gravity until checked in its movement through the slot and stud connection g of the sleeve 9 with the shaft 7'. This slot and stud connection is such as to check the shutter (7 when it is directly inthe path of the projecting beam. Simultaneously with the movement of the sleeve 9 the sleeve m is slid along the shaft h to disengage the fiange m from the face of the drive disk 9 and stop the operation of the mechanism driven from the shaft h including the short shaft 0 by which the governor arms a are rotated. hen rotation of the governor arms u ceases a suitable spring a restores the arms to their normal position and moves the shaft 75 axially, such movement of the shaft resulting in partial rotation of the sleeve t and movement of its arm t to its normal position of rest. Such movement of the arm t" will bring about a corresponding movement of the links 10 and result in partial rotation of the sleeve 8 about the shaft 1', the extent of this rotation being such that the recess will be'brought into line with the stud on the sleeve 9'. The next succeeding movement of the controlling lever i by the operator to initiate movement of the operating mechanism will serve to release the rod 2 and arm 1 and permit the spring 1' to move the stud 9 into the recess 8. Simultaneously with this clutching engagement rotation of the governor arms a is brought about and the shutter 7 is raised out of the path of the beam of light, in the manner hereinbefore described.

From the detailed description of the parts and the brief outline of their mode of operation given in connection with such description, it is'believed that their coordinate operation will now be understood. It should be noted, particularly, however, that while all of the mechanism described is interrelated, it lies within the scope of this invention to employ one or more of the improvements illustrated as conditions of use require. Moreover the specific structures employed for bringing about the desired re sults may be changed by those skilled in the art, but all such changes are to be deemed within the scope of this invention provided they fall within the terms of the claims appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a moving picture machine, the combination with the source of electrical energy for the projecting light, of a switch to control the electrical circuit, devices for holding the switch in closed position during the projection of the images, and a manually operable lever operatively positioned with respect to such last named devices, whereby when the lever is in its normal position the said devices are positioned to open the switch, and when the lever is moved out of its normal position by the operator theswitch may be closed.

2. In a moving picture machine, the combination with the operating mechanism and the source of electrical energy for the projecting light, of a switch to control the said circuit, devices for holding the switch in closed position during the projection of the images, a manually operable lever operatively positioned with respect to said last named devices, and means carried by said lever for controlling the operating mechanism, whereby when the lever is in its Irmal position the switch is open and the op crating mechanism is inactive, and when the lever is moved by the operator out of its normal position the switch may be closed and movement of the operating mechanism is initiated.

3. In a moving picture machine, the combinati on with the operating mechanism and the source of electrical energy for the projecting light, of a switch to control the said circuit, devices for holding the switch in closed position during the projection of the ment of the operating mechanism is iniimages, a manually operable lever operatiated, and means to restore the lever to its tively positioned with respect to said last normal position automatically whenever it named devices, means carried by said lever is released by the operator. 1 i 5 for controlling the operating mechanism, This specification signed and witnessed 1.5

whereby when the lever is in its normal pothis 17th day of July A. D. 1914.

I sition the switch isopen and the operating EARLE M. WOODEN. meehanism is inactive, and when the lever Signed in the presence of is moved by the operator out of its normal FRANK H. LOGAN,

10 position the switch may be closed and move- FRANCIS J. MURPHY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G, 

